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of¡¡countries¡¡less¡¡fertile¡¡and¡¡less¡¡favourably¡¡circumstanced£»¡¡it
is¡¡not¡¡perhaps¡¡very¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡imagine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡III
Of¡¡the¡¡Rise¡¡and¡¡Progress¡¡of¡¡Cities¡¡and¡¡Towns¡¡after¡¡the¡¡Fall¡¡of
the¡¡Roman¡¡Empire¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡cities¡¡and¡¡towns¡¡were£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of
the¡¡Roman¡¡empire£»¡¡not¡¡more¡¡favoured¡¡than¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡£
They¡¡consisted£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡different¡¡order¡¡of¡¡people¡¡from
the¡¡first¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡republics¡¡of¡¡Greece¡¡and
Italy¡£¡¡These¡¡last¡¡were¡¡composed¡¡chiefly¡¡of¡¡the¡¡proprietors¡¡of
lands£»¡¡among¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡public¡¡territory¡¡was¡¡originally¡¡divided£»
and¡¡who¡¡found¡¡it¡¡convenient¡¡to¡¡build¡¡their¡¡houses¡¡in¡¡the
neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡surround¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wall£»
for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡common¡¡defence¡£¡¡After¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Roman
empire£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡the¡¡proprietors¡¡of¡¡land¡¡seem¡¡generally
to¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡fortified¡¡castles¡¡on¡¡their¡¡own¡¡estates£»¡¡and¡¡in
the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡tenants¡¡and¡¡dependants¡£¡¡The¡¡towns¡¡were
chiefly¡¡inhabited¡¡by¡¡tradesmen¡¡and¡¡mechanics£»¡¡who¡¡seem¡¡in¡¡those
days¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡of¡¡servile£»¡¡or¡¡very¡¡nearly¡¡of¡¡servile
condition¡£¡¡The¡¡privileges¡¡which¡¡we¡¡find¡¡granted¡¡by¡¡ancient
charters¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡towns¡¡in
Europe¡¡sufficiently¡¡show¡¡what¡¡they¡¡were¡¡before¡¡those¡¡grants¡£¡¡The
people¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡is¡¡granted¡¡as¡¡a¡¡privilege¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡give
away¡¡their¡¡own¡¡daughters¡¡in¡¡marriage¡¡without¡¡the¡¡consent¡¡of¡¡their
lord£»¡¡that¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡death¡¡their¡¡own¡¡children£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡their
lord£»¡¡should¡¡succeed¡¡to¡¡their¡¡goods£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡dispose
of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡effects¡¡by¡¡will£»¡¡must£»¡¡before¡¡those¡¡grants£»¡¡have
been¡¡either¡¡altogether¡¡or¡¡very¡¡nearly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡state¡¡of
villanage¡¡with¡¡the¡¡occupiers¡¡of¡¡land¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡seem£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡very¡¡poor£»¡¡mean¡¡set¡¡of
people£»¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡about¡¡with¡¡their¡¡goods¡¡from¡¡place¡¡to
place£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡fair¡¡to¡¡fair£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡hawkers¡¡and¡¡pedlars¡¡of¡¡the
present¡¡times¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡the¡¡different¡¡countries¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡then£»¡¡in
the¡¡same¡¡manner¡¡as¡¡in¡¡several¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡governments¡¡of¡¡Asia
at¡¡present£»¡¡taxes¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡¡levied¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡persons¡¡and¡¡goods¡¡of
travellers¡¡when¡¡they¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡certain¡¡manors£»¡¡when¡¡they
went¡¡over¡¡certain¡¡bridges£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡about¡¡their¡¡goods
from¡¡place¡¡to¡¡place¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fair£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡erected¡¡in¡¡it¡¡a¡¡booth¡¡or
stall¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡them¡¡in¡£¡¡These¡¡different¡¡taxes¡¡were¡¡known¡¡in
England¡¡by¡¡the¡¡names¡¡of¡¡passage£»¡¡pontage£»¡¡lastage£»¡¡and¡¡stallage¡£
Sometimes¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡sometimes¡¡a¡¡great¡¡lord£»¡¡who¡¡had£»¡¡it¡¡seems£»
upon¡¡some¡¡occasions£»¡¡authority¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this£»¡¡would¡¡grant¡¡to
particular¡¡traders£»¡¡to¡¡such¡¡particularly¡¡as¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own
demesnes£»¡¡a¡¡general¡¡exemption¡¡from¡¡such¡¡taxes¡£¡¡Such¡¡traders£»
though¡¡in¡¡other¡¡respects¡¡of¡¡servile£»¡¡or¡¡very¡¡nearly¡¡of¡¡servile
condition£»¡¡were¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡account¡¡called¡¡free¡traders¡£¡¡They¡¡in
return¡¡usually¡¡paid¡¡to¡¡their¡¡protector¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡annual¡¡poll¡tax¡£
In¡¡those¡¡days¡¡protection¡¡was¡¡seldom¡¡granted¡¡without¡¡a¡¡valuable
consideration£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡tax¡¡might£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as
compensation¡¡for¡¡what¡¡their¡¡patrons¡¡might¡¡lose¡¡by¡¡their¡¡exemption
from¡¡other¡¡taxes¡£¡¡At¡¡first£»¡¡both¡¡those¡¡poll¡taxes¡¡and¡¡those
exemptions¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡altogether¡¡personal£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡have
affected¡¡only¡¡particular¡¡individuals¡¡during¡¡either¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡or
the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡their¡¡protectors¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡very¡¡imperfect¡¡accounts
which¡¡have¡¡been¡¡published¡¡from¡¡Domesday¡¡Book¡¡of¡¡several¡¡of¡¡the
towns¡¡of¡¡England£»¡¡mention¡¡is¡¡frequently¡¡made¡¡sometimes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tax
which¡¡particular¡¡burghers¡¡paid£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡either¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king
or¡¡to¡¡some¡¡other¡¡great¡¡lord¡¡for¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡protection£»¡¡and
sometimes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡general¡¡amount¡¡only¡¡of¡¡all¡¡those¡¡taxes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡how¡¡servile¡¡soever¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡originally¡¡the
condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡towns£»¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡evidently
that¡¡they¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡liberty¡¡and¡¡independency¡¡much¡¡earlier¡¡than
the¡¡occupiers¡¡of¡¡land¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡That¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king's
revenue¡¡which¡¡arose¡¡from¡¡such¡¡poll¡taxes¡¡in¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡town
used¡¡commonly¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡in¡¡farm¡¡during¡¡a¡¡term¡¡of¡¡years¡¡for¡¡a¡¡rent
certain£»¡¡sometimes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sheriff¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡to
other¡¡persons¡£¡¡The¡¡burghers¡¡themselves¡¡frequently¡¡got¡¡credit
enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡admitted¡¡to¡¡farm¡¡the¡¡revenues¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡which
arose¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡town£»¡¡they¡¡becoming¡¡jointly¡¡and¡¡severally
answerable¡¡for¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡rent¡£¡¡To¡¡let¡¡a¡¡farm¡¡in¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡was
quite¡¡agreeable¡¡to¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡economy¡¡of£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡the
sovereigns¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡different¡¡countries¡¡of¡¡Europe£»¡¡who¡¡used
frequently¡¡to¡¡let¡¡whole¡¡manors¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡tenants¡¡of¡¡those
manors£»¡¡they¡¡becoming¡¡jointly¡¡and¡¡severally¡¡answerable¡¡for¡¡the
whole¡¡rent£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡return¡¡being¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡it¡¡in¡¡their
own¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡exchequer¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of
their¡¡own¡¡bailiff£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡thus¡¡altogether¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡the
insolence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡officers¡¡¡a¡¡circumstance¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days
regarded¡¡as¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡importance¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡let¡¡to¡¡the
burghers£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡manner¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡other¡¡farmers£»¡¡for
a¡¡term¡¡of¡¡years¡¡only¡£¡¡In¡¡process¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡however£»¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to
have¡¡become¡¡the¡¡general¡¡practice¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡it¡¡to¡¡them¡¡in¡¡fee£»¡¡that
is¡¡for¡¡ever£»¡¡reserving¡¡a¡¡rent¡¡certain¡¡never¡¡afterwards¡¡to¡¡be
augmented¡£¡¡The¡¡payment¡¡having¡¡thus¡¡become¡¡perpetual£»¡¡the
exemptions£»¡¡in¡¡return¡¡for¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡made£»¡¡naturally¡¡became
perpetual¡¡too¡£¡¡Those¡¡exemptions£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡be
personal£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡afterwards¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡belonging¡¡to
individuals¡¡as¡¡individuals£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡burghers¡¡of¡¡a¡¡particular
burgh£»¡¡which£»¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡account£»¡¡was¡¡called¡¡a¡¡free¡¡burgh£»¡¡for¡¡the
same¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡called¡¡free¡¡burghers¡¡or¡¡free
traders¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Along¡¡with¡¡this¡¡grant£»¡¡the¡¡important¡¡privileges¡¡above
mentioned£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡give¡¡away¡¡their¡¡own¡¡daughters¡¡in
marriage£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡children¡¡should¡¡succeed¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡that
they¡¡might¡¡dispose¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡effects¡¡by¡¡will£»¡¡were¡¡generally
bestowed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡burghers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡was¡¡given¡£
Whether¡¡such¡¡privileges¡¡had¡¡before¡¡been¡¡usually¡¡granted¡¡along
with¡¡the¡¡freedom¡¡of¡¡trade¡¡to¡¡particular¡¡burghers£»¡¡as¡¡individuals£»
I¡¡know¡¡not¡£¡¡I¡¡reckon¡¡it¡¡not¡¡improbable¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡though¡¡I
cannot¡¡produce¡¡any¡¡direct¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡however¡¡this¡¡may
have¡¡been£»¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡attributes¡¡of¡¡villanage¡¡and¡¡slavery
being¡¡thus¡¡taken¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡now£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡became
really¡¡free¡¡in¡¡our¡¡present¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡the¡¡word¡¡Freedom¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡was¡¡this¡¡all¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time
erected¡¡into¡¡a¡¡commonalty¡¡or¡¡corporation£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡privilege¡¡of
having¡¡magistrates¡¡and¡¡a¡¡town¡¡council¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own£»¡¡of¡¡making
bye¡laws¡¡for¡¡their¡¡own¡¡government£»¡¡of¡¡building¡¡walls¡¡for¡¡their
own¡¡defence£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡reducing¡¡all¡¡their¡¡inhabitants¡¡under¡¡a¡¡sort
of¡¡military¡¡discipline¡¡by¡¡obliging¡¡them¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡and¡¡ward£»¡¡that
is£»¡¡as¡¡anciently¡¡understood£»¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡and¡¡defend¡¡those¡¡walls
against¡¡all¡¡attacks¡¡and¡¡surprises¡¡by¡¡night¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡by¡¡day¡£¡¡In
England¡¡they¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡exempted¡¡from¡¡suit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hundred¡¡and
county¡¡courts£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡such¡¡pleas¡¡as¡¡should¡¡arise¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡the
pleas¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡excepted£»¡¡were¡¡left¡¡to¡¡the¡¡decision¡¡of¡¡their
own¡¡magistrates¡£¡¡In¡¡other¡¡countries¡¡much¡¡greater¡¡and¡¡more
extensive¡¡jurisdictions¡¡were¡¡frequently¡¡granted¡¡to¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡might£»¡¡probably£»¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡to¡¡such¡¡towns¡¡as
were¡¡admitted¡¡to¡¡farm¡¡their¡¡own¡¡revenues¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡compulsive
jurisdiction¡¡to¡¡oblige¡¡their¡¡own¡¡citizens¡¡to¡¡make¡¡payment¡£¡¡In
those¡¡disorderly¡¡times¡¡it¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡extremely¡¡inconvenient
to¡¡have¡¡left¡¡them¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡justice¡¡from¡¡any¡¡other
tribunal¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡must¡¡seem¡¡extraordinary¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sovereigns¡¡of
all¡¡the¡¡different¡¡countries¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡should¡¡have¡¡exchanged¡¡in
this¡¡manner¡¡for¡¡a¡¡rent¡¡certain£»¡¡never¡¡more¡¡to¡¡be¡¡augmented£»¡¡that
branch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡revenue¡¡which¡¡was£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡of¡¡all¡¡others¡¡the¡¡most
likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡improved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡course¡¡of¡¡things£»¡¡without
either¡¡expense¡¡or¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own£º¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should£»
besides£»¡¡have¡¡in¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡voluntarily¡¡erected¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of
independent¡¡republics¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡dominions¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡order¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡this£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡in
thos